Carilion EAP Newsletter - August 2023

August 2023

Dose of Exercise Fends Off Depression

Significant research for decades has focused on how exercise can help prevent and relieve depression. The latest research demonstrates that exercise is dose-related the more exercise, the greater the preventive effect. For example, 20 minutes daily of brisk walking for five days weekly was associated with a 16% lower rate of depressive symptoms and 43% lower odds of major depression. Talk to your doctor about exercise, and read the study below to see more dose or impact ratios and what exercise will do for you. Learn more: https://studyfinds.org/few-minutes-exercise-depression/

Avoid Back-to-School Mistakes

Avoid these four big mistakes parents make before their children go back to school. You will reduce stress and feel less overwhelmed. 1) Lastminute preparations. Go early to grab school supplies and uniforms and complete paperwork. 2) Dismissing your child’s anxieties about going back to school. Hint: Take a trip to the school, peek through the window, walk around a bit, talk about expectations and fears, and offer reassurance. 3) Not practicing the school routine before school begins. Children staying up too late now will make it tougher to settle into a new routine the week school begins. 4) Skipping school orientations and open houses. These events provide valuable information you will be chasing down for weeks and months if you don’t attend.

Helping a Coworker Make a Change

Many coworker relationship issues are best resolved with a peer approach. Unfortunately, many colleagues avoid assertiveness, become resentful, or even think about resigning over annoyances that might be easily corrected with the right approach. Peer influence is powerful because peers naturally have more empathy for their positions. When a peer encourages specific actions, they may be more readily accepted. Peers typically build trust with each other, so suggestions on how to correct a problem are better received. Issues such as consistent lateness, lack of communication, negative attitude, gossiping, or refusing accountability are well suited for peer-to-peer correction. Sound familiar? Here’s how to proceed: 1) Get clear on the problem with dates, times, and instances where an undesirable behavior happened. 2) Have a meeting where you’re sure you’ll not be interrupted. 3) Use a positive, concerned, constructive mindset. 4) Use “I” statements, such as “John, I notice…when you arrive late, it puts extra pressure on the rest of us to cover your tasks.” Avoid “You always…” or similar statements. 5) Build urgency with a focus on the impact of the behavior on others. (Don’t forget about the company’s EAP if something personal emerges in your conversation.) 6) Be supportive. (e.g., “Can I do anything to help you make this change?”) 7) Collaborate and brainstorm together to discover a solution. 8) Follow up and recognize positive changes. Note that supervisors have a crucial role in addressing issues among employees; however, a more harmonious and positive workplace emerges when there is a balance between peer support and leadership.

Don’t hesitate to use Carilion EAP as an outlet to vent your frustrations. Venting your emotions to a professional can be helpful and allow the release of pent-up feelings that may have been building up over time. Expressing your emotions can be cathartic and provide a sense of relief. Carilion EAP is confidential and offers a safe, nonjudgmental space for you to express yourself. Being heard and understood validates your feelings and experiences, and if you request, the EAP Consultant will help with the next step: identifying the problem and the solution. Avoid a crisis call to Carilion EAP. Discuss what’s on your mind now.

Carilion EAP Consultants are Licensed Mental Health Professionals and highly trained and experienced in working across a diverse population with diverse challenges. We are a trusted partner to the employees and organizations we serve. Contact us so we can support you in your life challenges.